Banding machine

ABSTRACT

A banding machine for opening a substantially continuous ribbon of flattened flexible tubular material such as cellulose and severing that opened material to the desired length. Such apparatus includes a roll supported floating mandrel which is actively positioned for internal engagement with the material by a pair of driven feed rollers and a further intermediate feeding mechanism functionally interconnected therewith to effect withdrawal of the tubular material from a source of supply.

United States Patent Abrecht Sept. 4, 1973 [54] BANDING MACHINE 3,594,975 7/1971 Abrecht 53/3 [75] Inventor: William A. Abrecht, Hawthorn, NJ. Primary Examiner Aen N. Knowles [73] Assignee: Dart Industries Inc., Los Angeles, Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Calif. Attorney-Leigh B. Taylor, Kenneth J. Hovet et al.

[22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1972 App]. No.: 228,919

US. Cl 226/44, 226/117, 53/3 Int. Cl B65h 25/04 Field of Search 226/ 108, 45, 44,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1966 Hollenton et al. 226/45 X 5/1963 Craig et al. 53/133 [5 7] ABSTRACT A banding machine for opening a substantially continuous ribbon of flattened flexible tubular material such as cellulose and severing that opened material to the desired length. Such apparatus includes a roll supported floating mandrel which is actively positioned for internal engagement with the material by a pair of driven feed rollers and a further intermediate feeding mechanism functionally interconnected therewith to effect withdrawal of the tubular material from a source of supply.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] SEP 4 I973 SHEET 1 0F 2 BANDING MACHINE This invention relates to a device for applying tubular bands or sleeves to a variety of products or product packages. More particularly, the invention relates to an applicator construction for feeding an elongated continuous ribbon of flattened flexible material over a product package in an improved manner to that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,594,975.

In specific areas of the bottling industry and in other packaging, it has become conventional to apply a sleeve-like seal interconnecting the package cover or closure and the container itself. Such seals in overlapping both the cover and container create a tamper and pilferproof package, assure a hermetical seal therebetween, and present a more attractive package. Additional utility for these devices may encompass the application of protective sleeves to glassware, thus eliminating the need for individual paper or cardboard wrapping, and to packaging per se where the sleeve only will encase the product.

Various sleeve materials may be employed with this apparatus, several of which are cellulosics, shrinkable thermoplastics, and polyethylene or similar nettings. As indicated, these may function as sealing, protecting and/or encasing media but for the purpose of this disclosure, emphasis will hereinafter be placed upon sealing a container and its closure. Further, the included discussion will relate principally to the use of a flexible flattened ribbon of cellulose which, to be properly maintained without premature shrinking, must be stored in formaldehyde, alcohol, glycerine or some other suitable liquid.

For convenience in manufacturing, shipment and use, this tubular cellulose material is flattened and spooled. It therefore must be opened to its original tubular form and severed into the desired lengths as it is applied in use.

Prior art devices for the application of these tubular sleeves have in many respects been unsatisfactory. Principally, these deficiencies relate to difficulties in material feeding which in turn are brought about by the inherent adherence of such plastics, as are mentioned, to themselves. Thus, a flattened ribbon of cellulose tends to stick together and-otherwise resist efforts directed to its opening. Further, because it is necessary to maintain cellulose in a fluid bath, non-uniform coefficients of friction throughout the feed train and material slippage therein may cause variations in cut lengths of material. This in turn may result in defective sealing, improper registry of printed matter on the material and apparatus jamming of plugging. This latter problem'is that which this invention is directed to solving and which is related to the construction herein described below.

Another problem is caused by the shrinkage of the cellulose material prior to its arrival at the opening mandrel and container top. As noted, this material is maintained in a fluid bath and, upon its removal therefrom, drying and consequently shrinkage begins. Thus, upon the arrival at the opening mandrel, the material may already be undersize. This then further complicates feeding and opening because it must be stretched back to size as it is pushed over the forming section of the mandrel and onto the container. This creates an additional resistance to the forward feeding of the material and therefore contributes to theproblems noted above.

It therefore is the primary objectives of this invention to produce a seal applicator apparatus which more simply, effectively and efficiently will position a tubular sleeve on a container or similar product or package. In accomplishing these objectives and overcoming the problems of the prior art, this device provides an opening mandrel having plural positive feeding action exterior and interior of the flexible flattened tubular material and a secondary feeding mechanism which withdraws the tubular material from its source of supply and presents it to the mandrel. Contact between the container and apparatus and relative movement of these towards each other to effect that contact is eliminated. A portion on the upperpart of the floating mandrel is constructed to oversize (i.e., stretch) the tubular material prior to its being finally opened and inserted over the container.

Additionally, the mandrel, in its operational position between the feed roller system, is stabilized by the placement of idler rollers on the mandrel. These rolls also assist in the positive feeding mentioned, which feeding is further improved due to a pressure loading that may be adjustably applied between the idler rolls and feed rollers. The added stability and accurate feed also now make it feasible to employ electronic sensing means to activate and synchronize the related feeding and cutting functions responsive to the perception of indicia on the material.

. These and additional objectives, uses and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon refer- .ence to the following description, claims and appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the front side of the banding machine and including the dual feeding arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the'back side of the same upper portion of the machine with a part thereof cut away to expose the drawing train for the intermediate feeding means.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and with initial attention directed to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 is used to specify the mandrel feed roller assembly of the invention. This assembly includes a pair of opposed feed rollers 12 which when operational are pressed toit gether in side by side relationship forming a roller nip (not shown). The feed roller frame 14 supports the rollers 12 in suitably mounted bearings which of course are interconnected withthe frame. The feed rollers 14 are resiliently covered as for example by a rubber-like material that is centrally grooved to receive the mandrel 16.

In a preferred arrangement, the frame 14 includes a pivoted frame member 18. This member, as its name implies, is pivotally attached to another portion 20 of frame 14 and is adapted to be held in its operational position by a locking mechanism 22. As should be apparent when the mechanism is pivoted counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1 from above, one of the feed rollers will be swung or pivoted away from the stationary frame portion so that the floating mandrel 16 can be easily positioned within the feed roller assembly 10. Frame portion 20 further includes a guide bushing pair 28 mounted for movement along guide rods 30 so that the entirety of the upper machine assembly 32 is vertically movable in response to the rotation of lead screw 34. This of course will adjust the placement of mandrel 16 so that various sized articles can be accommodated thereunder.

The assembly also includes a motor, brake and clutch unit which acts through spur gears 24 to drive each of the rollers 12. This then provides a positively driven roll pair which in their operational position are biased into contact by the locking mechanism 22.

Also attached to the frame 14 is a cutting device (not shown) which is fluid cylinder activated. More details of the cutting device and assembly 10 may be had upon reference to the above mentioned US. patent. Further in conjunction with such assembly, however, there is included an intermediate or second feeding means generally shown at 26 which is likewise pivotally mounted to the portion of frame 14. This second feeding means includes a multi-roller arrangement around which the flexible tubular material is threaded to obtain maximum feed control from the fluid immersed spool. Two of the mentioned rollers 36 and 38 are powered through a suitable drive train, in this instance a chain 40 and spur gear arrangement 42 (FIG. 2). These rollers are, of course, biased together so as to form a nip therebetween which will grip the tubular material and withdraw same from the spool.

Two additional idler rollers 44 and 46 are also mounted on the support member 48 of feeding means 26. These rollers simply guide the material to roller pair 36, 38 and mandrel 16 respectively. There is, however, another dancer roller 50 around which the tubular material is also directed and this by means of any suitable mechanical and/or electrical circuitry functions to regulate the operation of the intermediate feed rollers 36, 38. Similarly such provides for the take-up of material as it is withdrawn from the supply spool prior to being fed over mandrel l6 and onto an article thereunder. Accordingly, tubular material will be threaded over rollers 44 and 36 back around rollers 38 and 50, over roller 46 and onto mandrel 16.

In operation the second or intermediate feeding mechanism (rollers 36 and 38) are activated to withdraw material from its supply spool. As this is done dancer roller 50 moves rearwadly to take-up such material and upon the accumulation of a predetermined amount of material will deactivate the drive motor means operating the drive train above described. Simultaneously an article or articles are being positioned under mandrel l6 and responsive thereto the feed roller assembly 10 will be activated to pull accumulated material away from the dancer roller. Such withdrawal by the first feed means, assembly 10 is also dictated by the position of dancer roller 50 thus assuring that there is always enough material stored by the dancer roller for the impending mandrel feed stroke.

It should be obvious therefore that the forces exerted by feed assembly 10, for the most part, are directed toward drawing the material over mandrel 16 and are not expended upon withdrawal of material from its source of supply. This substantially reduces slippage at the assembly and accordingly assures accurate and reproducible material feeding.

As is evident from FIG. 1 and 2 support member 48 is also vertically adjustable with respect to assembly 10. Thus, mandrels of varying lengths may be easily accommodated further enhancing machine flexibility. Overhead beam 52 is cantilevered at the rear of the frame 20 and mounts a thread adjustement bar 54. The bar engages nut 56 on support 48 and a simple rotation of handwheel 56 will effect adjustment of the support and second feeding means 26.

I claim:

1. In a banding machine, a feeding system for feeding a ribbon of flattened flexible tubular material, said system including a plurality of feeding mechanisms, the first of which comprises a pair of centrally grooved driven feed rollers in side by side relationship; a floating mandrel positioned within the grooves of said first feed rollers; means to activate said first feed rollers in response to the position of articles to be banded; and a second feeding means responsively interconnected with said first mechanism including movable dancer roll means adapted to take-up a predetermined amount of said material and to control the operation of said second feeding means when said amount of material has been withdrawn from a source of supply and position same proximate said first feeding mechanism.

2. In a banding machine according to claim 1 wherein said second feeding means further includes a plurality of driven feed wheels around which said flattened ribbon is threaded and wherein said dancer roll means includes control means that activate said second feeding means responsive to the dancer roll position.

3. In a banding machine according to claim 1 wherein at least one idler roller is employed with said second feed means to properly orient said flattened ribbon for engagement therewith.

4. In a banding machine according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of idler rollers are in juxtaposition with said second feeding means so that said flattened ribbon is accurately guided in its path of entry and exit with respect thereto.

. I I! II! 

1. In a banding machine, a feeding system for feeding a ribbon of flattened flexible tubular material, said system including a plurality of feeding mechanisms, the first of which comprises a pair of centrally grooved driven feed rollers in side by side relationship; a floating mandrel positioned within the grooves of said first feed rollers; means to activate said first feed rollers in response to the position of articles to be banded; and a second feeding means responsively interconnected with said first mechanism inCluding movable dancer roll means adapted to take-up a predetermined amount of said material and to control the operation of said second feeding means when said amount of material has been withdrawn from a source of supply and position same proximate said first feeding mechanism.
 2. In a banding machine according to claim 1 wherein said second feeding means further includes a plurality of driven feed wheels around which said flattened ribbon is threaded and wherein said dancer roll means includes control means that activate said second feeding means responsive to the dancer roll position.
 3. In a banding machine according to claim 1 wherein at least one idler roller is employed with said second feed means to properly orient said flattened ribbon for engagement therewith.
 4. In a banding machine according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of idler rollers are in juxtaposition with said second feeding means so that said flattened ribbon is accurately guided in its path of entry and exit with respect thereto. 